Report: Steelers' Shazier diagnosed with spinal contusion

The Pittsburgh Steelers were told by medical personnel that linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal contusion, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network.

The team will not know any more until some swelling goes down.

Shazier suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals while trying to make a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.

He lay motionless while being attended to by medical staff and was eventually placed on a backboard and carted off the field.

Shazier was then transferred by ambulance to the hospital and taken to a trauma center.

Steelers general manager and vice president Kevin Colbert addressed the issue after the game in a statement.

Colbert says Shazier "will not require surgery at this time," but he will remain in hospital for further evaluation.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it's the same injury suffered by Tommy Maddox in 2002, which caused him to miss just a single game.

Shazier is ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 8 linebacker on the season. The fourth-year player has recorded 87 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, one recovery, and three interceptions in 11 games.